San Diego moves closer to opening day 25

PEORIA, Ariz.  The Padres on Monday moved closer to their final 25 players, as eight were informed they will not make the opening day roster.

San Diego optioned infielder Ryan Jackson and infielder-outfielder Alex Castellanos to Triple-A El Paso. The Padres also reassigned outfielder Alex Dickerson to minor league camp. Officially, the moves left 37 active players in major league camp.

Five others - included, officially, among those 37 - were told they will not be with the big league club Sunday, when the Padres open the season against the Dodgers at Petco Park. They were infielder Alberto Gonzalez; right-handers Blaine Boyer and Kevin Quackenbush; and left-handers Patrick Schuster and Tony Sipp.

The trimming of the two lefties likely signals that the Padres will carry only one southpaw, Alex Torres, in the bullpen. Meanwhile, left-hander Robbie Erlin appears to be San Diego’s fifth starter following Josh Johnson’s forearm strain. Manager Bud Black said Erlin threw about 60 pitches in a minor league game last week and will throw another, aiming for 75 pitches, on Wednesday.

Top prospect Matt Wisler was a candidate for the spot, but he is not on the 40-man roster and lacks Erlin’s experience. Erlin, who posted a 4.12 earned-run average in 11 major league games (nine starts) last season, should be sufficiently stretched out in the next two weeks. Owing to a pair of off-days, the Padres will not need a fifth starter until April 8.

They will, however, need a final reliever, that role seemingly tailored for right-hander Donn Roach. With Johnson out, Roach would be able to serve as a second long man beside Tim Stauffer.

Schuster and Sipp appear to be on their way out of the organization.

As of early Monday afternoon, Schuster was in the process of going through waivers. Being that he is a Rule 5 selection, any team that claims Schuster must keep him on the big league roster all season. If he clears waivers, the Padres will offer him back to his previous team, the Diamondbacks, for $25,000.

Sipp can opt out of his contract on Wednesday, assuming he is not on the major league roster.

For now, Black said, Gonzalez, Boyer and Quackenbush will remain in big league camp. They are expected to travel to USD for the Padres’ two exhibitions later this week.

Of the three position players shed from the roster, only Jackson can be considered a slight surprise. With his plus defense, he had been viewed as a legitimate contender to make the 25-man roster, though, unlike probable utility man Alexi Amarista, he has minor league options left.

Black said Jackson will serve as El Paso’s primary shortstop.

The manager also said Sunday that the Padres are still considering the option of carrying three catchers on the opening day roster. Yasmani Grandal, who underwent ACL surgery less than eight months ago, caught a spring-high seven innings Sunday and is scheduled to catch a full nine in a minor league game Tuesday.

Nick Hundley has a secure spot, while the Padres would like to keep Rene Rivera on the roster, especially if Grandal isn’t ready to catch full games back-to-back by the start of the season.

Black said the Padres were running out of time to have Grandal clear that hurdle, “but if he does make the team and we do keep three catchers, he might not be asked to do that.”

Tuesday's game

At: Peoria Stadium, 7:05 p.m.

Matchup: Cubs (RHP C.J. Edwards) vs. Padres (RHP Andrew Cashner)

On the air: 1090 AM

Notable

First baseman-outfielder Tommy Medica, who, along with Kyle Blanks and Xavier Nady is competing for a bench spot, hit his third home run of the spring in Sunday’s 7-1 win over the Cubs in Mesa.

Eric Stults made his third consecutive start in which he surrendered only one run. The left-hander went 5 2/3 innings, allowed five hits and a walk, and struck out three.